What stands out worked out from the figures below

Canisteo has the most expensive homes ($117k median).

Lyons has the most people working from home (11.8%).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Canisteo	Lyons
People
Population	3,243Lowest	5,594Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.8%Lowest NY: +4.2%	-0.1%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	42.2±4.3Highest 6% above NY	41.1±5.4Lowest 3% above NY
	Canisteo and Lyons are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	24.3%±4.5Lowest NY: 20.5%	25.7%±5.8Highest NY: 20.5%
	Lyons and Canisteo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	23.4%±4.9Highest NY: 17.9%	19.5%±3.4Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Canisteo and Lyons are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	20.3%Lowest NY: 40.2%	21%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.7%±2.3Highest NY: 7%	2.6%±1.6Lowest NY: 7%
	Canisteo and Lyons are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$62,660±$8kLowest 27% below NY	$74,524±$12kHighest 13% below NY
	Lyons and Canisteo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$116,800±$9kHighest 72% below NY	$98,400±$12kLowest 77% below NY
	Canisteo and Lyons are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$975±$304Highest 40% below NY	$920±$111Lowest 43% below NY
	Canisteo and Lyons are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,889Lowest 56% below NY	$2,998Highest 54% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	59.8%±18.1Highest NY: 52.1%	35.6%±12.2Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Canisteo and Lyons are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.7%Lowest NY: 14%	14.3%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.1%Highest NY: 54.3%	74.9%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1959Highest same as NY	1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minHighest 28% below NY	21 minLowest 37% below NY
Work from home	3.3%±1.9Lowest NY: 14.9%	11.8%±8.3Highest NY: 14.9%
	Lyons and Canisteo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#318 of 484 in NY	#388 of 484 in NY
School district	CANISTEO-GREENWOOD CSD	LYONS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	CANISTEO-GREENWOOD HIGH SCHOOL	LYONS SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	11.5Highest	9.5Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

NY average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.